The cost for the poor
What role do women play in the provision of water?
When it comes to urban and rural water provision, what roles have traditionally been held by men and women?
Women and girls are often forced to bribe water officials to connect them to the water grid. If they lack resources, they may face unhygienic water sources or sources far from their homes. This can increase their vulnerability to water-borne diseases as well as their time burdens, and can expose them to greater risks of gender-based violence and sexual extortion (Alolo, 2007, as cited in UNDP & UNIFEM, 2010).
